If you have an elderly parent, chances are you’ve spent more than one sleepless night worrying about such things. Thankfully, the past few years have seen a boom in technical innovations that can prolong their independence and help you to be a more effective caregiver, even from afar.
They include automatic activity sensors, smart pillboxes, and communicators that share health data with you or a medical pro. These gizmos (and the monitoring services that typically come with them) can be pricey, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand a year – and neither Medicare nor most private health insurers typically cover them (though some will if they’re prescribed by a doctor).
